Patents Examined by Hemant M. Desai
  • Patent number: 9908233
    Abstract: A fastener installation tool including a cylinder assembly, a handle/sleeve assembly, and a tool head. The handle/sleeve assembly includes a handle having a bore and a sleeve positioned within the bore. An inner wall of the sleeve includes a first portion with a first inner diameter and a second portion with a second inner diameter. The sleeve includes an outer wall having a first portion with a first outer diameter and a second portion with a second outer diameter, the first outer diameter of the first portion of the outer wall of the sleeve being greater than the second outer diameter of the second portion of the outer wall of the sleeve. A space is formed between the second portion of the outer wall of the sleeve and the second portion of the inner wall of the handle, which enables the sleeve to flex during operation of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ARCONIC INC.
    Inventor: Robert Wilcox
  • Patent number: 9908646
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for inserting at least one sort of conveyed products (2) into containers (3) accommodating a specific number of products (2). The apparatus (1) has at least two placing robots (4a, 4b, 4c) defining a transfer area (15), at least one transport device (6) for transporting the products (2), and at least one transport device (7) for transporting the containers (3). The transport device (6) for the products (2) has at least one separation point (5) in the direction of travel (14) within the transfer area (15), said separation point dividing the transport device (6) for the products (2) into at least two transport portions (6a, 6b) that can be actuated independently of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Veltru AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Renner, Hans Andrea Schuler
  • Patent number: 9901339
    Abstract: A surgical instrument for surgically joining a tissue includes a handle assembly, an elongate portion extending distally from the handle assembly, a pair of opposed jaw members, and a tissue stop. The tissue stop is mechanically engaged with a first jaw member and is configured to retain the tissue between the jaw members. The tissue stop is movable between a first position, where a stopping portion of the tissue stop is disposed between a tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member and a tissue-contacting surface of the second jaw member, and a second position, where the stopping portion is between the tissue-contacting surface of the first jaw member and a lower surface of the first jaw member. A portion of the tissue stop is made of stamped metal section and a portion of the tissue stop is made of an overmolded plastic section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: David Farascioni
  • Patent number: 9901340
    Abstract: An electrically powered surgical instrument includes a surgical end effector having a surgical procedure effecting actuation assembly. A handle is coupled with the end effector. An electric motor is disposed within a shell of the handle and has power terminals and a drive train actuating the assembly when the motor is supplied with power. A break-before-make power supply switch at the handle selectively controls supply of power to the motor. A post-termination braking circuit electrically short-circuits the power terminals when the switch does not supply power to the motor. A method for post-termination braking of an electrical motor utilizes the permanent magnetic field of the motor to counteract an inertia-induced over-stroke characteristic of the motor, drive train, and/or actuation assembly after powered operation by short-circuiting the still-spinning motor to create an electrically generated magnetic field in opposition to the permanent magnetic field upon ceasing supply of power to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Derek Dee Deville, Carlos Rivera, Matthew A. Palmer
  • Patent number: 9896226
    Abstract: A mail piece insertion mechanism is provided and, more particularly, mail piece insertion mechanisms and methods used for inserting mail pieces such as, for example, residual mail, into individual mail piece folders or containers is provided. The method of inserting mail pieces into folders includes opening the folders and aligning a mechanism with the opened folders and inserting the mail pieces therein. The insertion mechanism includes a mechanism configured open folders and a mechanism configured to insert mail pieces into the open folders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Gaug, Bryan Dalton, John Nasakaitis
  • Patent number: 9895497
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing syringes. Said method comprises fixing a needle to a syringe body by use of an adhesive followed by subjecting the syringes thus obtained to heat treatment. The invention further relates to a method of reducing leachables and/or extractables in prefilled syringes, said method comprising heat treating pre-fabricated syringes at a temperature of at least 40° C. before filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Hexal AG
    Inventor: Peter Skufca
  • Patent number: 9889964
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a cover, a method of covering, and a cover system for shipments of products transported by air with ULDs. The cover system can be adapted to any skid such as wooden or plastic pallets used for smaller loads used in air transport or any other mode of transportation. The cover system can include one or multiple parts. Each part of the cover system can be made of one or more layers. Each layer can be made of a single material or a combination of different materials. Different parts of the cover can be made of different materials or different combination of materials. The cover system provides thermal protection to temperature-sensitive products in or on the ULD. The cover system maintains the proper relative humidity level and gas concentrations for horticultural product loads. The cover system decreases the amount of water vapor released in the cargo holds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: BLUEYE, LLC
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Emond, William Pelletier
  • Patent number: 9889960
    Abstract: A machine for applying tubular film to products includes a mandrel assembly about which tubular film is passed and a film cutter for cutting the tubular film into sleeves sized for application to containers. The mandrel assembly includes a sleeve section located below the film cutter and about which a sleeve length portion of the tubular film extends prior to each film cutting operation of the film cutter to produce a cut sleeve. A sleeve ejection arrangement includes a rotatable ejector wheel disposed along the sleeve section of the mandrel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: AXON LLC
    Inventor: Adam W. Duncan
  • Patent number: 9888921
    Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus (stapler) is provided. The stapler includes a housing, elongated member, and a reload. A cartridge is configured to selectively couple to a first jaw member of the reload and includes one or more resilient members thereon. An anvil operably supported on a second jaw member of the reload is configured to compress one or more fasteners ejected from the cartridge. The anvil includes one or more locking members thereon. A knife is configured to translate through the cartridge and anvil when the first and second jaw members are in a closed configuration. Engagement between the knife and the resilient member(s) causes the resilient member(s) to move from an initial configuration that allows the knife to travel distally past the locking member(s) to a final configuration that allows the locking member(s) to engage the knife.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Justin Williams, Christopher Penna, Lee Ann Olson, Stanislaw Marczyk, Kenneth M. Cappola, Thomas R. Hessler, Ernest Aranyi, Stanislaw Kostrzewski
  • Patent number: 9883860
    Abstract: An interchangeable shaft assembly for use with a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may include a frame that operably supports a plurality of drive systems and defines an actuation axis. The shaft assembly may comprise a first shaft that is configured to apply first actuation motions to a surgical end effector that is operably coupled thereto. A proximal end of the first shaft is configured to be operably releasably coupled to a first one of the drive systems supported by the frame in a direction that is substantially transverse to the actuation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Richard L. Leimbach, Thomas W. Lytle, IV, Wendy A. Kerr, Brett E. Swensgard, Kevin D. Sackett, Mark D. Overmyer
  • Patent number: 9884694
    Abstract: A mat rolling machine for rolling a mat having a leading edge and a trailing edge may include a frame, at least one first drive belt, a plurality of second drive belts, a plurality of third drive belts, and a plurality of fourth drive belts. The mat rolling machine may include a plurality of primary fingers and a plurality of secondary fingers having a smaller radius of curvature on a lower face than the plurality of primary fingers. The mat rolling machine may include at least one support member for guiding a mat along a path through the mat rolling machine, and at least one pusher for discharging a rolled mat from the rear of the mat rolling machine. The mat rolling machine may include a wrapper cartridge. The mat rolling machine may include a cutter mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: MAT PROCESSING, LLC
    Inventor: Kufre Akpan
  • Patent number: 9884465
    Abstract: A dunnage conversion machine provides an improved electronic monitoring and control system for detecting and resolving many jamming conditions before they require significant operator intervention. The machine includes a conversion assembly with a feeding device that feeds the sheet stock material through the machine, and a sensing device downstream of the feeding device to monitor movement of the stock material downstream of the feeding device and to output a corresponding signal. A controller controls operation of the feeding device in response to the signal from the sensing device. The controller uses the signal to detect a potential jam condition and controls the feeding device to prevent or minimize the occurrence or severity of the jam condition, thereby minimizing the amount and degree of required operator intervention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: RANPAK CORP.
    Inventor: Jiri G. Sip
  • Patent number: 9878814
    Abstract: An apparatus for packaging an object with a tubular film, includes: a main frame, a stretch frame for stretching the tubular film and for applying the tubular film to the object, and a top frame having a feeding device for delivering a tubular film from a film magazine to the stretch frame and having a cutting device to cut the tubular film to a predetermined length. The top frame is moveable at the main frame between a working position and a maintenance position. In the maintenance position the top frame is located outside the work space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Erin Intellectual Property Limited
    Inventors: Kees Geerts, Martijn H. C. De Laat, Lambertus Johannes Beekmans
  • Patent number: 9878434
    Abstract: A power drill having percussion drilling function, drilling function and screwing function has a gearing for transmitting the drive motion of a drive unit to a tool spindle. Furthermore, two latching elements are provided which, in the percussion drilling function, are in latching engagement and in the drilling or screwing position are in the disengaged state. A mode setting device has a rotatable supporting ring and a thrust ring, coupled to the supporting ring in a torsionally fixed manner which, in the screwing position is held on the gear housing in an axially displaceable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Joachim Hecht, Martin Kraus
  • Patent number: 9872683
    Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a jaw assembly at a distal end connected to a handle assembly that is configured to control the stapler and actuate the deployment of staples. The surgical stapler successfully eliminates intermediate caming portions commonly known as pushers that are located between the staples and a translating slider. The staples are located in pockets at an angle such that the base of the staple is parallel to an angled caming surface of the slider. The translating slider comes into direct contact with staples during deployment as the slider moves through each staple pocket where staples are partially supported by recesses along the slider pathway. The staples are deployed at an angle against the anvil surface. Because there are no pushers, a great deal of space is saved resulting in a much smaller diameter surgical stapler that is particularly suitable for laparoscopic stapling applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Applied Medical Resources Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Hopkins, Donald L. Gadberry, Matthew M. Becerra, Babak Jasemian, Gary M. Johnson, Steven E. Decker
  • Patent number: 9867620
    Abstract: An endoscopic surgical device is provided and includes an endoscopic anchor retaining/advancing assembly including a proximal tube portion and a distal tube portion pivotably connected to one another at an articulation joint; a proximal inner shaft rotatably disposed within the proximal tube portion; a distal inner shaft rotatably disposed within the distal tube portion; and a relatively flexible intermediate drive cable mechanically interconnecting the proximal inner shaft and the distal inner shaft, wherein the intermediate drive cable extends across the articulation joint, wherein the intermediate drive cable defines a central longitudinal axis that is off-set a radial distance from a central longitudinal axis of the proximal tube portion and the distal tube portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: Gregory Fischvogt, Kevin Sniffin, Jay Breindel, Mark Russo
  • Patent number: 9867619
    Abstract: An anvil assembly delivery system includes an anvil assembly having a center rod and an anvil head assembly pivotally secured to the center rod a flexible tube having a first end configured for oral insertion into a patient and a second end engaged with the anvil assembly, and a retrieval suture connected to the head assembly positioned to extend from the anvil assembly in a direction opposite to the flexible tube. The anvil assembly delivery system also includes a spacer suture tube positioned adjacent the anvil head assembly and defining a suture channel, which is supported on the retrieval suture and is dimensioned to prevent the retrieval suture from becoming trapped in the staple line of a stapling device. In an embodiment, the spacer is a suture tube defining a suture channel which receives the retrieval suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Justin Williams
  • Patent number: 9868198
    Abstract: A surgical device comprising an adapter assembly is disclosed. The adapter assembly selectively interconnects a loading unit and a device housing, and includes at least one drive converter assembly for interconnecting a rotatable drive shaft and an axially translatable drive member of the loading unit. The at least one drive converter assembly converts and transmits a rotation of the rotatable drive shaft to an axial translation of the axially translatable drive member of the loading unit. The at least one drive converter assembly includes a drive element, a drive nut, and a distal drive member. The drive element defines a longitudinal axis. The drive nut is disposed about the longitudinal axis, and the distal drive member is disposed along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: David Nicholas, John Beardsley, Russell Pribanic, Michael Zemlok
  • Patent number: 9862511
    Abstract: A processing method for automatically opening a slide-open package of tobacco articles with a hinged lid; the processing method including the steps of: mechanically clamping an outer container of the package; exerting pull on the lid to rotate the lid into an open position by means of a first actuator, which contacts a top wall of the lid, and has a suction head which engages the top wall by suction; and, simultaneously and in coordination with the step of exerting pull on the lid, exerting thrust on an inner container of the package, to slide the inner container axially with respect to the outer container, by means of a second actuator, which contacts a wall of the inner container through a window formed through a corresponding wall of the outer container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA′ PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Luca Lanzarini, Luca Testoni, Ivanoe Bertuzzi, Michele Squarzoni
  • Patent number: 9861367
    Abstract: An anvil assembly suitable for trans-oral delivery includes an anvil head configured to receive a retrieval suture that is separable from the anvil head following delivery of the anvil assembly. An anvil delivery assembly includes the anvil assembly, a delivery assembly secured to the anvil assembly, and a retrieval suture selectively secured to the anvil assembly for retrieving the anvil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Justin Williams